The number of holiday homes in Cornwall is on the rise, according to a new report. Findings by insurer Home Protect show that the Duchy is one of the top three areas in the UK which has seen the number of holiday homes on the increase along with Gwynedd in North Wales and Norfolk. The figures show that the number of holiday homes listed showed a 41.02% rise, post Brexit vote - a total of 1,576 additional listings over the six months from 3,824 in July to 5,400 in January this year. Read...

A man has been treated for smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in the kitchen of a ground floor flat.Two fire engines were called to the scene on Trelawney Road in Helston to tackle fire.The crews from Mullion and Helston extinguished it using breathing apparatus, one hosereel and one extinguisher. The co-responders were also on scene and treated one male casualty for smoke inhalation.Read more: Woman aged 27 killed in A30 crash involving three cars and a pedestrianFirefighters from Newquay...

A special exhibition to celebrate the 40th birthday of an iconic Cornish ship is being held in Penzance from next week. The Scillonian III passenger ferry's landmark anniversary will be marked with the chance for people to admire exclusive souvenirs and photographs from its past during a pop-up exhibition. Display boards explaining more about the how the ferry was built and some of the highlights of her four decades of service, as well as a special radio-controlled scale model of the...

A crane driver praised for his quick thinking when it began to topple at Falmouth docks 'undoubtedly' saving lives has been hailed a hero. Derek Allen reportedly realised there was an issue with the machinery while he was operating it over the RFA Tidespring on Wednesday morning and managed to swing it back over the wharf side and lower it to the ground. The arm of the huge 600-tonne crane at A&P dockyard came crashing to the ground shortly before 9am. By a miracle, no one was injured...

There's a Goldfinger, a Golden Gate Bridge and even a Gold Digger (for all you Kayne West fans) and now there is Gold Star, a Biscay 36 yacht and, until recently, it wasn't gold. Thanks to a state-of-the-art paint job (the first time the system has ever been used outside of the developer's facilities) by the Falmouth Boat Co at Flushing boatyard, Gold Star is ready for yachtsman Antoine Cousot to compete in an Herculean sailing challenge next year. The Golden Globe Race 2018 will celebrate...

The man who died after falling from the Tamar Bridge was described as "an amazing man and loving father" by his widow, who hopes it will raise more awareness of mental health and the importance of talking about it. Trystan Bryant died on Thursday night following an incident on the bridge during which police had been negotiating with him to climb down. Traffic was stopped while specially trained police officers dealt with the incident involving the 38-year-old who had clinical...

It's been a big week for the General Election in Cornwall and across the UK.With a little under four weeks until the big vote on June, we've had a visit from Lib Dem leader Tim Farron for a Cornwall Live Q and A in West Cornwall, Labour leaked their manifesto and the Prime Minister went on TV with her husband.In terms of policies, the Conservatives said they'd bring back foxhunting, the Lib Dems said they'd legalise cannabis and Labour pledged to nationalise just about everything. We've also had...

Bude residents have been left amused by a huge sign complete with balloons and bunting which mocks Cormac for the length of time it has taken to complete a roundabout. The sign appeared at Hillhead last night, but has reportedly already been removed by Cormac workers, who seemingly did not see the funny side. Work began nearly two years ago to replace the junction with a roundabout and frustrated drivers and residents have often taken to social media to complain. Read more: There are some...

Mums have joined to together to cut the cost and stress for teenagers at their school proms – with their own prom dress rental service. Helen Stembridge, who lives on the Lizard peninsula, said she was appalled at the cost of dresses and the pressure on girls to look good for their big day. She and Tracy Moys, a fellow mum from Porthleven, have now founded the Helston and Mullion Prom Piskie. They are offering dresses for free to 16-year-olds at the secondary schools in Helston and...

A woman has died in a late-night crash involving three cars on the A30. Emergency services were called to the incident between Loggans Moor roundabout and the Roseworthy Dip, near the most westerly Camborne slip road, just after 10pm. As a result the road was closed for around six and a half hours. Read more: Woman pulled from the water by lifeboat crews - live updates In a statement released this morning, Devon and Cornwall Police said the 27-year-old woman was declared dead at the...

A gull rescued from Bodmin could have "starved to death" after getting a sharp, metal fizzy drink can wedged on to his beak, making it impossible for him to eat. The distressed bird was found underweight and exhausted by animal experts from the RSPCA who were called in to help. Luckily the bird was spotted struggling with the sharp, serrated can and the RSPCA was called. Read more: Adventurous cat hitched a ride on Torpoint ferry and needs to find its owners Animal welfare...

A skills fair with a difference will be held in Porthtowan this weekend, teaching visitors a range of sustainable skills from how to thatch a roof to how to forage for your own food.The event, hosted by Mount Pleasant Eco Park and The Down to Earth Foundation will be showcasing the latest inspiring ways of how to live a low impact lifestyle as well as some practical skills that people have relied on for thousands of years.Here's 11 different things you can learn at the fair this weekend:1. Learn...

An amateur photographer was left paralysed for seven hours after stepping on an adder's nest in a popular woodland walking area in Cornwall.John Kiernan had parked his car at Tehidy Woods near Camborne to get a shot and stepped in long grass nearby when he instantly felt a sting on his leg.Within 15 minutes of being bitten, the 54-year-old from Charlestown could not feel his body from the chin down after suffering a severe reaction.Read more: Woman pulled from the water by lifeboat crews - live...

Eurovision fans dreaming of a UK victory are putting their hopes on former X Factor contestant Lucie Jones as the annual song contest takes place tonight. She will be hoping her song Never Give Up On You goes down better than last year's entry ,Joe and Jake, who came a disappointing 24th out of 26 in the contest with their track You're Not Alone. Read next: Woman pulled from the water by lifeboat crews - live updates This year's showdown, in Kiev, Ukraine, looks to be tougher than ever...

A Falmouth University student's comic book is the first to be written in the standard written form of Cornish and has been nominated for a culture award. Joana Varandas, who is a first year student studying English with Creative Writing, has based the story of her book, titled Men-an-Tol, on traditional Cornish folklore. Joana, who moved from Portugal last September to study at Falmouth University, said: "After I moved to Falmouth, my friend Tania said to me that now I live in...

Coastguards, lifeboat crews and police were called to rescue a person from the water near Porthleven this morning. Two lifeboats from Penlee launched just after 7am to the area around Loe Bar where they pulled a casualty from the water. Falmouth Coastguard confirmed they were involved in assisting the police at Porthleven but could not give any further details. An RNLI spokeswoman for Penlee Lifeboat said: "There's a casualty been found in the water. Both our lifeboats were tasked...

The hospital which serves around a fifth of people in Cornwall says it is getting back to normal after becoming entangled in a widespread cyber attack on the NHS. Plymouth's Derriford Hospital was one of around 30 trusts hit by a debilitating computer hack which yesterday prompted many to cancel and delay treatment for patients. The Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust was not affected by the attack which was said to be part of a massive assault on cyber systems across Europe. Today, a...

The much-anticipated Poldark Season 3 has been aired at a private screening attended by stars Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson in London. The first episode of the BBC drama that has wowed audiences with its heartthrob actors and stunning views of Cornwall, is due to hit our screens next month. Still expected to air in the primetime Sunday night 9pm slot, it was brought forward from the autumn to June amid speculation that the BBC were trying to avoid a clash with ITV period drama...

The way police handled an incident in which a man from Cornwall twice scaled the Tamar Bridge before falling to his death is to be investigated. Emergency services were called to the Saltash side of the bridge at around 8.30pm on Thursday night after reports of a man on top of one of the towers. Traffic was stopped over the bridge while specially trained police officers dealt with the incident. The 38-year-old man from Saltash was brought down from his position, however, shortly after...

Anyone who lives in Cornwall or has stopped over for a visit will know that we are a county of sandy beaches, turquoise blue waters and warm and friendly people. But you don't have to travel far to find that Cornwall also has its fair share of hilariously-named spots and weird and wonderful signs. Often we will stumble across a sign which will make you smile. Some are intentionally funny, others steeped in the heritage of our illustrious landscape, a few are simply bizarre, others...